Spokane7
50°
January 26, 2010 in Business, City, Idaho
Papa John’s franchisee closes 12 pizza locations
Papa John’s locations in Coeur d’Alene, Spokane and other Eastern Washington communities closed Monday night.
Tish Muldoon, spokesman for Papa John’s International Inc., said franchisee North Country Pizza shut down 12 stores. They will remain closed until the company can find another operator, she said.
“The franchisee has been unresponsive to us,” Muldoon said. “We are unable to reach him.”
Information filed with the Washington Department of Licensing lists Kevin Maines and Michael Bishop as the “governing people” of North Country Pizza, which has a Colbert mailing address. A telephone message left at that address was not returned.
Larry Kelley, a driver and former manager of the Papa John’s at 920 W. Indiana, said a district manager sent out a text message Tuesday morning notifying employees of the closures.
“We were struggling,” Kelley said, but there was no indication a shutdown was imminent.
“We did not expect that this would happen,” he said, “Nothing was said last night.”
He said 14 were employed at the Indiana store.
Kelley said employees were supposed to get their bi-weekly paychecks Saturday. He was due about $500, Kelley said.
Muldoon said Papa John’s “understands” employees will receive checks as well as W-2 tax forms.
Kelley said a sign posted on the Indiana store also said the checks and forms would be mailed by the end of the month.
He said he will file for unemployment and look for another job.
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spokanecougar on January 26 at 7:49 p.m.
What coward owners. Grow some balls, man up and give the employees notice. Karma you bastards, you will soon get what is coming to you. How dare these pathetic bastards do this to people who probably need that paycheck more then 95% of us in Spokane. WHAT LOSERS THOSE OWNERS ARE!!!!
Shame on anyone who even thinks of doing business with these two losers in the future. I will let all my business contacts know about these two people and do my part to make sure nobody ever will deal or work with them again.
bdr on January 26 at 8:13 p.m.
ha they probably HAD millions in their pockets before they voted republican for the last 8 years……….!
its a sad day when pizza goes bankrupt……in pizza capital usa.
(dont even think about blaming this sour economy on democrats)
its all yourn pee pee……republicans.
threeandfour on January 26 at 9:40 p.m.
The individual store managers noticed enventory not being resupplied.. thats a clue.
I wonder of the state of the pizza economy, Pizza Hut cutting prices and competition from take n bakes. I always thought that Poppa Johns were well underpriced. Perhaps they were not making a profit?
Either way dumping on your hard working employees is unforgivable.
yavomm3 on January 26 at 9:54 p.m.
i have two sons ages 20 and 18 who worked for indian trail papa johns and as of monday night they didnt have a clue that they would wake up tuesday jobless. I think that what they have done to the employees at papa johns is horrible. My boys have rent to pay and bills as i am sure others do as well. What is going on in this world that people just dont care about other people?
madscientist on January 27 at 7:05 a.m.
Typical Papa Johns. Their pizza is gross. not surprising they had to shut down. I avoided this pizza for years, While I feel sorry for the employees, this was a long time coming. Your product was disgusting. I am GLAD this brand of pizza is gone.
Squigglesandgiggles on January 27 at 11:09 a.m.
How Horrible! I feel so sorry for all of the workers. I can’t imagine waking up one day and getting ready for work, only to see I’ve been TEXT MESSAGED out of a job!!! Couldn’t someone call? Give notice before hand??? This isn’t something that just happens over night. They had to have known, and then to have to wait for your paycheck, when most of us anymore are living paycheck to paycheck??? I agree, KARMA! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for all the workers to find better work.
alamoana on January 27 at 11:19 p.m.
Good News - Pizza Rita wil GLADLY honor any and all Papa John’s coupons and gift certificates! Use them for Spokane’s Own, Spokane’s Best!
sunshine928 on February 01 at 7:10 p.m.
While everyone decries the owners for not telling employees in advance that the restaurants were closing they need to use common sense. Unfortunately, if you tell people they will not have a job the next day, everything you have in the store will disappear. Any monies, products, equipment can possibly ( and very likely) walk away.
As the business is obviously going to file for bankruptcy all assests have to be protected in or to pay off creditors (creditors that include the employees).
As a former employee, I can say that the gentlemen in question are good people. I know they will get their employees paid.
To all who are out of work, good luck to you! I wish you all the best.